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    West Ham keen on Youssef En-Nesyri in January transfer but Sevilla’s form could scupper £35m-plus deal

    WEST HAM are interested in a January move for Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri.However, there is little confidence from the Hammers that a deal can be struck due to the Spanish side’s similarly poor domestic position.
    West Ham are once again interested in signing Youssef En-Nesyri this monthCredit: Getty
    Boss David Moyes has previously insisted the east London club are not planning any winter window business after spending around £160m in the summer.
    However, in recent press conferences, the Scot has hinted at some potential incomings following their poor start to the Premier League campaign and goalscoring woes.
    Sevilla’s En-Nesyri, 25, was a target for Moyes and West Ham in 2021 only to be priced out of a switch, with the Spaniards demanding up to £35m.
    They remain keen on the Moroccan international, and an approach has been made for a loan this window with an optional permanent fee at the end of the season.
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    However, SunSport understands West Ham are not holding their breath and are expecting to be knocked back by Sevilla once again.
    Like West Ham, Sevilla find themselves in 17th and a battle to avoid the drop with just three wins in their opening 16 league matches – one victory fewer than Moyes’ men have currently.
    West Ham have scored just 15 goals in 18 outings in the Prem, with the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio struggling to fire them up the league.
    En-Nesyri is seen as too valuable to Sevilla, despite failing to net in La Liga thus far.
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    He did hit a hat-trick in the Copa del Rey against Linares Deportivo last week, as well as netting twice in the Champions League and twice at the World Cup in Qatar.
    Overall, he’s scored 40 goals in 123 games for Sevilla in all competitions. More

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    Arsenal ‘ready to launch huge bid for £88m-rated Declan Rice’ as they look to beat Chelsea and Man Utd to West Ham star

    ARSENAL are ready to launch a shock bid for Declan Rice, according to reports.The Gunners sit eight points clear at the top of the Premier League as they chase their first league title in 19 years.
    Declan Rice is a transfer target for Arsenal in the summerCredit: AFP
    But Mikel Arteta is keen to strengthen his squad in January with Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk.
    However, Spanish outlet Fichajes report the Emirates boss wants his board to sanction a big-money move for Rice in the summer.
    West Ham captain Rice, 23, is rated at around £88million and his club have previously refused to let him leave despite plenty of interest.
    But he has rejected a new contract and alerted potential suitors at the World Cup when he publicly expressed his desire to be at a club competing for trophies and in the Champions League.
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    And Arsenal could offer that with Arteta spearheading the exciting revival in North London.
    Manchester United and Chelsea are also long-term admirers of Rice.
    But with both teams, especially the Blues, off the pace set by Arsenal in the Premier League, their top-four ambitions are far from guaranteed.
    So that could help Arsenal win the race for the former Chelsea academy player’s signature, who is said to be keen to stay in the capital.
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    An extra holding midfielder is a key priority for Arsenal – with Albert Sambi Lokonga well short of the quality Thomas Partey boasts as the single pivot in the 4-3-3 formation.
    Therefore the addition of Rice – one of the best defensive midfielders in the country – would be a major boost.
    The 39-cap England star has made 218 West Ham appearances after graduating from the academy.
    But he has struggled to find his best form for the Hammers this season with David Moyes’ side only out of the relegation zone by one goal.

    Rice hit back at criticism that he had one eye on a transfer away by stating he would never “give up”.
    The midfielder said: “Keep reading little comments like these that are, 1. Funny & 2. Complete nonsense.
    “I would never ever give up, for the fans or for the club.
    “Of course things on a football pitch get tough! But especially as captain and wearing this shirt, I know exactly what it means to play for West Ham.”
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    Moyes also defended his skipper and added last week: “People can have their opinions, but Declan played fantastically well in midweek and he has done for nearly all the time I’ve been here.
    “He’s tried to drive us on and he did everything he could in midweek. I don’t see it.” More

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    West Ham ‘leading Tottenham in Ruslan Malinovskyi transfer race with Spurs only keen on loan deal despite Conte pleas’

    WEST HAM and Tottenham are reportedly keen on Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi.The 29-year-old Ukrainian is said to be eager for a new challenge.
    Ruslan Malinovskyi is a reported target for West Ham and TottenhamCredit: Getty
    Malinovskyi would rather a move to Tottenham to work with Antonio Conte, according to Calciomercato.
    But Spurs are only reported to be willing to bring the midfielder to the club on loan.
    However, Atalanta will not consider a temporary deal.
    That seemingly leaves West Ham in pole position to swoop for the 51-cap international.
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    French club Marseille are also said to be waiting in the “background” in case he becomes available to them.
    Malinovskyi is under contract with Atalanta until 2025, and the Serie A side are also thought to be reluctant to sell.
    The player himself is reportedly intent on a fresh start after three-and-a-half years in Italy.
    Spurs were previously linked in the summer, while West Ham are looking at making January additions to try and fire them up the table.
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    Tottenham’s reported willingness to only sign him on loan comes despite Conte’s pleas for transfers.
    After the 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, the Italian claimed Spurs must sign two players worth up to £70million every season if they want to become title contenders.
    Conte said: “I continue to repeat that last season we made a miracle.
    “It happened, why? Because we played only one competition and we played with 12 or 13 players that didn’t have injuries in the last 15 games.
    “We did a miracle, but I knew what the situation was and then I was very clear with the club (over what was needed) to become title contenders.
    “I remember very well in the summer people talked about Tottenham as title contenders but it was a bit crazy to see this.
    “To become title contenders, to become a team ready to fight to win something, you need to have a solid foundation, which means to have 14 or 15 strong players, with quality, and the other young players to develop.
    “Every season, you can add two players – but two players priced £50m, £60m, £70m.
    “In this way, it means you are signing important players who can improve the quality and the level of your team. But this is a process, guys.” More

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    ‘I would never, ever give up’ – Declan Rice hits back at West Ham fans who fear he’s got one eye on big-money transfer

    DECLAN RICE has hit back at supporters who have claimed that he has “given up” in his performances for West Ham.The Hammers have endured a miserable run of form that has seen them slip to 17th in the Premier League.
    Declan Rice has hit back at fans who have claimed he’s ‘given up’Credit: Alamy
    The 2-0 defeat to Brentford on Friday has left them outside of the relegation zone only on goal difference.
    Some fans have been taking out their frustrations on social media by blasting their captain Rice’s recent displays.
    With speculation mounting that he will leave West Ham, where he has played since 2014, one Instagram account even claimed that Rice “has given up”.
    But the England international has hit back at that after reading it himself on Instagram.
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    He wrote: “Keep reading little comments like these that are, 1. Funny & 2. Complete nonsense. I would never ever give up, for the fans or for the club.
    “Of course things on a football pitch get tough! But especially as captain and wearing this shirt, I know exactly what it means to play for West Ham.”
    His manager David Moyes has also publicly defended the player from social media criticism.
    He said last week: “People can have their opinions, but Declan played fantastically well in midweek and he has done for nearly all the time I’ve been here.
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    “He’s tried to drive us on and he did everything he could in midweek. I don’t see it.”
    A host of clubs have been linked with moves for Rice over recent months.
    Both Manchester United and City are believed to want to take him to the North West.
    Meanwhile Chelsea, who released the ace as a youngster, are also keen on bringing him back to Stamford Bridge.
    West Ham are next in action tomorrow when they head to Leeds United in the Premier League before an FA Cup trip to Brentford on Saturday.  More

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    Arsenal could enter Declan Rice transfer battle with West Ham ‘to accept fee close to £70m and star wanting London move’

    ARSENAL could enter the race to sign Declan Rice from West Ham, according to reports.The midfielder has been on the wishlist of a number of top clubs for some time but the Hammers have refused to let him go.
    Arsenal could try to sign Declan RiceCredit: Reuters
    But with 18 months remaining on his contract and having turned down a new deal, Rice could be heading off.
    Chelsea have been heavily linked with his signature but according to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs, the Gunners could also make a move.
    Manchester United are also considering a bid for Rice, who could be sold for closer to £70million.
    West Ham previously demanded £100m to let the England star leave.
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    Liverpool are another club in the race to sign Rice, with the Irons said to be resigned to losing him in the summer.
    Jacobs claims Rice would prefer a London move having been born and raised in the capital – he also played for Chelsea at youth level.

    But Hammers boss David Moyes is desperate to keep Rice and is hopeful the midfielder will decide to stay at the London Stadium.
    He said: “He wants to win and he wants to play for a really good side, which is going to give him that opportunity to do so.
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    “We hope that we can reach the Champions League — it is looking difficult at this moment in time but we are not just going to roll over and let Dec walk out of the building, that is for sure. It is going to be a big fight.”
    Rice won’t be sold in the upcoming January transfer window, but West Ham could cash in on him in the summer.
    Chelsea are believed to be leading the race to sign Rice but are in the process of completing a deal for another midfielder, Enzo Fernandez. More

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    David Moyes is in denial, has gone from hero to zero and should be left in 2022 if West Ham fail to beat Brentford

    DAVID MOYES is in denial – his West Ham team are bang in trouble with the Hammers having a 2022 to forget. The East London club have undeniably had two-and-a-half good seasons on paper under the Scotsman.
    Moyes looks out of ideas at West Ham with his side losing ten of their 16 league games this seasonCredit: Getty
    Captain Rice insists West Ham’s form is a ‘blip’ despite their ropey performances dating back over a yearCredit: Reuters
    He saved West Ham from relegation, followed it up with consecutive sixth and seventh-placed finishes, and a Europa League semi-final.
    However, the European run, in particular, has masked the Hammers’ dismal league form in the last calendar year.
    West Ham have won just 11 Premier League games in 35, and from April they’ve managed just five wins in their last 23.
    For further context, those 11 wins came against: Crystal Palace, Norwich X2, Watford, Wolves X2, Aston Villa X2, Everton, Fulham and Bournemouth.
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    That’s five wins against relegated or newly promoted opposition, and six wins against teams that finished middle of the pack, or near bottom.
    West Ham’s once impressive counter attacking style had been found out, and manager Moyes needed to change the Hammers’ style in order to sustain their push up the table.
    And so the ex-Manchester United boss signed off on £161million worth of talent last summer, most of which played on mainland Europe.
    Starting Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta, Italian internationals Gianluca Scamacca and Emerson, Moroccan ace Nayef Aguerd, Germany’s Thilo Kehrer, Burnley main man Maxwel Cornet, World Cup winner Alphonse Areola and lifelong Hammer Flynn Downes all arrived at the London Stadium.
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    West Ham hold the majority of touches in just five zones on the pitch – most of which are inside their own penalty area
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    Such signings suggested that West Ham wanted more of the ball in 2022/23.
    Instead, they’ve seen their share of possession drop from 48 per cent to 44, their defensive line drop considerably deeper than that of last season and they’re one of the most passive-pressing teams in the division.
    They roll out the welcome mat for opposition players to progress towards the 18-yard box, they surrender possession in 50 per cent of zones of the pitch while controlling just over 16 per cent – most of which are inside their own penalty area.
    And before the World Cup break, such a conservative approach left Moyes’ men floating JUST above the relegation zone following an away loss to Man Utd and two losses in “winnable” home games to Palace and Leicester.
    The six-week stoppage for the winter tournament was arguably the best opportunity the West Ham hierarchy were going to get to twist and bring in a new manager with fresh ideas.
    They instead stuck with Moyes, and in the eyes of many it was the right decision.
    The board decided against making changes, which Moyes could not afford to follow, but DID so anyway.
    Before the restart of West Ham’s Premier League campaign on Boxing Day away at league leaders Arsenal, Moyes’ denial reached a new level when he claimed on talkSPORT that his team were in a “European battle” and not a relegation battle.
    Nice fighting talk – but the performance at the Emirates to follow was far too passive and the defeat far too predictable despite leading at half-time through a Said Benrahma penalty.
    Moyes’ inferiority complex against a “Big Six” side backfired, as it always has, as Martin Odegaard picked the Hammers apart and extended the Scotsman’s winless run on the road against England’s best as West Ham manager to 26.
    To make matters worse, they’ve won just four points from an available 78 against the big boys, so whatever the game plan is, it HASN’T worked, ISN’T working and WON’T work going forward.
    West Ham’s form isn’t a cause for concern for captain Declan Rice either, who appears to be too cool for school these days.
    Like Moyes, he doesn’t feel West Ham are in a relegation battle “at all” and described the Hammers’ form as a “blip”, but a “blip” surely doesn’t last over a year.
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    Rice’s tune could soon change should his team fall to a defeat at home to Brentford on Friday – a team they’ve not beaten in the Premier League – or perhaps when his team are staring down the barrel of back-to-back-to-back games against Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham in February.
    A fifth-straight league defeat later this week should see Moyes be left in 2022 and a new chapter begin under new management, who has the tactical nous to meet the demands of the ever-changing ambitions in East London.
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    West Ham will put up ‘big fight’ to stop Declan Rice transfer exit as Chelsea and Man Utd chase £150m-rated midfielder

    DAVID MOYES has vowed West Ham will put up a “big fight” to keep Declan Rice this summer.The Hammers captain raised doubts over his future at the London Stadium during the recent World Cup.
    West Ham boss David Moyes is determined to keep hold of star Declan RiceCredit: Getty
    Rice has ambitions to play in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
    Rice, 23, laid out a clear ambition to play in the Champions League and win big trophies, adding that “you only have one career”.
    Manager Moyes has previously slapped a £150MILLION price-tag on Rice and says any potential suitors — who include London rivals Chelsea — will not get an easy ride in trying to sign the midfielder.
    The Scot said: “He wants to win and he wants to play for a really good side, which is going to give him that opportunity to do so.
    “We hope that we can reach the Champions League — it is looking difficult at this moment in time but we are not just going to roll over and let Dec walk out of the building, that is for sure. It is going to be a big fight.”
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    England ace Rice was at Chelsea’s academy until the age of 14 when the Blues released him and he switched to West Ham.
    Moyes added: “I like it because he wants to challenge himself and wants to play in the big games and wants to be a top player. I don’t think you are ever going to hold anyone back from having those ambitions.”
    This time last year the Hammers were challenging for a Champions League place but they return to Premier League action against table-toppers Arsenal today in a very different place.
    Moyes’ men are just one point above the relegation zone and while the former Manchester United manager insists he does not feel under pressure, he knows things need to change.
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    He said: “We have turned everything upside down to try and see what we can do better and improve.
    “But if we were going to change then it means everything we’ve done for the last two years was wrong.
    “Our attacking work is going to have to score us more goals. Defensively we’ve not been too bad in the main but our attack is where we’ve been falling down.”
    Hitting the back of the net has been West Ham’s biggest issue this season, but Moyes will not have a huge budget to go and add in the January window.
    Moyes has more attacking issues for the trip across London to face Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.
    Both strikers Michail Antonio and  Gianluca Scamacca are doubts, with the Italian rolling his ankle during a friendly against Fulham earlier this month.
    Meanwhile at the back, Kurt Zouma is still recovering from knee surgery while Nayef Aguerd, who himself picked up an injury at the World Cup, only returned to West Ham on Christmas Eve. More

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    Chelsea leading race for Declan Rice transfer ahead of Man Utd as his old club target swoop from West Ham

    CHELSEA are reportedly leading the race for England midfielder Declan Rice.The Blues have been chasing the West Ham ace for nearly three years but have yet to come close to securing his signature.
    Declan Rice has 18 months left on his West Ham contractCredit: GETTY
    Rice has rejected THREE new contract offers from the HammersCredit: REX
    Chelsea are reportedly leading the race for the midfielder’s signatureCredit: JAME MCPHILIMEY
    Rice’s future at the London Stadium, however, is currently up in the air as he has 18 months left on his contract.
    And the midfielder has rejected THREE new contract offers from the Hammers.
    Rice won’t be sold in the upcoming January transfer window, but West Ham could cash in on him in the summer.
    And The Athletic claim Chelsea are in poll position to land the 23-year-old – who was once on their academy books – ahead of their Premier League rivals.
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    It’s claimed, however, that the Blues are concerned they could be pipped to his signature by Manchester United or Manchester City.
    Former Chelsea chief Frank Lampard revealed last April that he tried his utmost to bring Rice to Stamford Bridge.
    He said: “We are fortunate to have him in England. West Ham are fortunate to have him.
    “He’s a leader and it is clear that he’s destined for great things. 
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    “I have probably given it away with how I spoke about him, but I think it’s common knowledge that I was a big fan of his.
    “It didn’t happen for various reasons, but we brought in a lot of players in the summer. But I was a big fan of him.”
    Rice put the Premier League’s big boys on red alert after England’s World Cup last-16 win over Senegal by reaffirming his desire to play in the Champions League.
    He said: “One hundred per cent, I want to play in the Champions League.
    “For the last two or three years, I’ve been saying that.
    Frank Lampard tried to sign Declan Rice while he was in charge of ChelseaCredit: GETTY
    “I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing.
    “I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies.”
    He added: “You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.
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    “I really want to do that.”
    Rice and his West Ham team-mates will be back in action on Boxing Day, travelling to the Emirates to take on Arsenal. More